The Resonant Sonic Drilling Method: An Innovative Technology for Environmental Restoration Programs

The resonant sonic drilling method offers unique capabilities to the environmental restoration market. By using a drill head that imparts high-frequency, high-force vibrations into a steel drill pipe, continuous, relatively undisturbed cores can be taken through virtually any formation. The resonant sonic method requires no mud, air, water, or other circulating medium for penetration: drills very fast; easily drills at any angle through formations such as rock, clay, sand, boulders, permafrost, or glacial till; and yields no cuttings in the drilling process. Case histories of projects using the method demonstrate excellent results but also indicate several problem areas with the method in its present state. Expanding research efforts to further develop the resonant sonic drilling method should help solve current drawbacks, and could produce a drilling technology for environmental work that significantly changes the way monitoring wells are drilled and constructed.